HC returns plea on late actor’s wife to trial court
The Madras High Court has set aside the order of a trial court in Gobichettipalayam which refused to dispense with the examination of Parvathammal, widow of Kannada actor Rajkumar, despite being told that she was not medically fit to give evidence, as she was suffering from Alzheimer.
Chennai
Justice P N Prakash, while allowing the plea filed on behalf of Parvathammal, remitted the matter to the trial court for fresh consideration as to whether the evidence of Parvathammal would be essential in the light of the assertion that she suffered from Alzheimer.
The judge also gave liberty to the prosecution to establish the fact that Parvathammal was not in a position to give evidence by examining the physician or any other person who was treating her and directed the completion of the entire exercise within four weeks.
Rajkumar and others were abducted by forest brigand Veerappan and was kept in captivity for a long time until they were released by the abductors. In this regard, a case was registered against some persons.
Subsequently, on completing the investigation, a final report has been filed and the case is now pending before the III Additional District and Sessions Judge, Gobichettipalayam. In the meantime, Veerappan and Rajkumar passed away and ten persons are facing trial.
The investigating officer filed a plea for dispensing with the examination of Parvathammal, on the ground that she was suffering from Alzheimer. The trial court dismissed the petition on March 23, 2016, following which an appeal was filed on behalf of Parvathammal before the high court.
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